It wasn't pretty, but the Prince George Cougars picked up a 5-4 win Saturday in Spokane.
Cougars' defenceman Linden Springer picked up his first Western Hockey League point of the season when he was credited with the winning goal 2:13 after the Chiefs tied the game early in the third period.
The win helped the Cougars (7-17-0-2) complete a successful three-game road swing, picking up three of a possible six points including a 3-2 shootout win in Seattle on Friday. The Chiefs (11-6-1-2) outshot Prince George 30-17 as Drew Owsley had another good night in the Cougars' net.
For the second straight night, the Cougars jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when Charles Inglis intercepted a Chiefs' clearing attempt, beating Spokane starting goaltender Luke Lee-Knight for his ninth goal of the season.
The Chiefs answered back with a pair before the game was 10 minutes old on goals from left-winger Marek Kalus and centre Anthony Bardaro, but the lead only lasted 21 seconds before Greg Fraser picked up his eighth goal of the season. Inglis and Jesse Forsberg had the assists.
It was 3-2 for the Cougars 19 seconds into the second period as Troy Bourke converted his seventh goal of the season, finishing off the play with linemates Alex Forsberg and Spencer Asuchak.
The Cougars have struggled on the power play all season and nothing changed in Spokane as they went 0-for-4, allowing a shorthanded goal by Blake Gal to tie the game at 3-3.
Campbell Elynuik restored the Cougars' lead midway through the second period. The 4-3 score held up until Dominik Uher found the twine behind Owsley 10 seconds into the third period with a power-play goal. Elynuik's fourth goal of the season chased Lee-Knight from the Chiefs' net as he was replaced with Mac Engel.
Brenden Kichton picked up three assists in a losing cause for the Chiefs.
"They made us look silly tonight," the Chiefs 19-year-old assistant captain said on the team's post-game Internet broadcast in Spokane.
The Cougars take their modest two-game win streak into Kamloops on Friday for a game with the Blazers (16-7-1-0) before hitting Kelowna on Saturday for a date with the Rockets (10-12-2-1).
Today, Hockey Canada announces its tryout roster for the World Junior Championship held in Edmonton and Calgary from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5. Cougars defenceman Martin Marincin has received his invitation to play for Team Slovakia. It's the third time the 19 year old will suit up for his country in the tournament.
